Boulevard du Temple, daguerreotype, c. 1839
Today we take the ease of photography for granted; after all, we are all armed with cameras in our pockets each day. But have you ever wondered HOW photography was invented in the first place? How in 1839 the world as we know it was transformed forever with the announcement of the Daguerreotype — a miraculous invention that over the course of 20 minutes produced images "drawn by the sun"?
In this Member-exclusive event, join Dr. Alex Rich, Executive Director and Chief Curator, for an interactive LIVE Zoom discussion during which you will learn and chat together about the remarkable (and surprisingly scandalous) history of photography, from its earliest discovery in the 1820s and the disputed claims to be called its inventor to the introduction of the Kodak camera and the evolution of the medium into a fine art form unto itself. Along the way, Dr. Rich will use key works from the Museum's permanent collection, including examples by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams, to flesh out why knowing the history of photography can give you essential insight into the processes, innovations, and decisions that underlie every photo you see.
Indeed, once you've taken this one-night crash course, you will never look at photography — your own or that of museum masters — the same way again.
RSVP below and we’ll send you a link to join via Zoom!